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CALLIOPE: Our story last left with conversations being promised. Naturally, we will avoid those conversations for now and leave that for a later time after we visit with our dear goddess of the forge.

Welcome, dear listeners, to Forged Bonds. 

As promised, we return to Hephaestus who is, of course, deep in conversation with Dionysus.

DIONYSUS: Seriously?

HEPHAESTUS: What?

DIONYSUS: Seriously?

HEPHAESTUS: What is it, Di? I’m kinda busy.

DIONYSUS: Making rings for Aphrodite and Ares’ wedding.

HEPHAESTUS: Ah. So you put all of that together then. 

DIONYSUS: You were suspicious about why she was here and her picture was plastered everywhere once I finally left so yeah, Phae, I put it together. Why didn’t you tell me?

HEPHAESTUS: It’s not that big a deal–

DIONYSUS: It must be if you’re treating it like this!

HEPHAESTUS: Alright, fine, it’s kind of a big deal. My mom asked me to do this and I don’t even think Aphrodite wants to be married, Di. After I sent you away she got all… Sad on me. Talking about how she has to do this and calling her own wedding nonsense and it just… I don’t know. Even before I found out she was all sad about it, it still felt wrong to share her business even if it is plastered everywhere. Gods knows I know what it’s like to have my business plastered everywhere.

DIONYSUS: I… I’m sorry, Phae.

HEPHAESTUS: Di–

DIONYSUS: I know, I know, it’s in the past and I was there for you as much as I could be and all the other things we talked about back then but still. I don’t think I always realize how heavily that still weighs on you and how it impacts what you do. Of course you wanted to keep her not-secret secret; that’s what you wanted for yourself too.

HEPHAESTUS: …What did I do to deserve you, Di?

DIONYSUS: You let me crash on your couch after the Solstice party and didn’t protest when I essentially pack bonded with you.

HEPHAESTUS: (laughing) Yeah, that sounds about right. So you’re not mad?

DIONYSUS: I was never mad, Phae. A little annoyed, but never mad. I promise. (pause) I do want to hear more about these rings, though. I’ve never known you to make anything so… delicate.

HEPHAESTUS: Hey, some of my sculpture and automaton work is very delicate, thank you.

DIONYSUS: You know what I mean. I’m not doubting your skill, I’m just surprised that Hera took notice of it.

HEPHAESTUS: My mom’s not a villain, you know. She… It’s not easy for her either. Gods, imagine having to be married to Zeus. She’s doing what she needs to for survival, same as any of us.

DIONYSUS: I still think you’re too nice to her. She abandoned you–

HEPHAESTUS: She would’ve come with me. I had asked, and she would’ve come with me. She wanted to come with me. But you see how the press follows her every movement; they immediately started running a story that she was having doubts about ruling and that her role as the goddess of marriage should be called into question if she was considering leaving hers. She didn’t want the press to follow me out here, not when she knew I was trying to get away from it all.

DIONYSUS: …She really did all of that for you?

HEPHAESTUS: Yeah. Yeah she did. I don’t think she knows how much I appreciated that– it’s so hard to try and tell her since he’s always there. If I had my way, she would never have to deal with him ever again.

DIONYSUS: Do you think they ever loved each other?

HEPHAESTUS: Honestly? I don’t know if it would be worse if they had loved each other or if they never did. 

DIONYSUS: What about Ares and Aphrodite? You think they’re in love at all?

HEPHAESTUS: …it’s a little bit more complicated than that. I think they’re like us.

DIONYSUS: Ah. Best friends who would kill and die for each other, but not romantically. And the wedding?

HEPHAESTUS: Arranged. Or at least partially arranged. One of those ‘Zeus asked us to do this and technically we could say no but could we really’ kind of things. 

DIONYSUS: So the excuse every nymph gives for his affairs then?

HEPHAESTUS: (snorting) Yeah. It’s hard, part of me does feel bad for those nymphs and minor gods that he sleeps with because they obviously don’t deserve to be thrust into the spotlight. But if you’ve seen the way so many of them target him at parties and stuff… Some of that sympathy tends to wane. Gods, especially after seeing the look on my mom’s face at some of those parties. Before I left, I seriously considered strangling Zeus but she always gave me the saddest little shake of the head to tell me to leave it alone.

DIONYSUS: I’m sorry for trashing your mom so much. I didn’t realize how… tortured the whole thing was.

HEPHAESTUS: It’s not your fault. I should’ve told you about all of this sooner, I just… It’s hard, sometimes, to talk about her. To know she’s still there, still under his control, with no way of breaking out. 

DIONYSUS: That’s not your fault either, Phae. None of it is.

HEPHAESTUS: Yeah…

DIONYSUS: Alright. Tell me about the rings.

HEPHAESTUS: What? 

DIONYSUS: You’re getting too sad and the only thing that will bounce you back is to talk about whatever project you’re working on. So hit me with it, tell me about the rings. Or whatever dagger you would like to use to carve my heart out when I annoy you. Or anything that will make you stop focusing on Hera, at least for a little bit.

HEPHAESTUS: Pack bonded after you passed out on my couch, huh?

DIONYSUS: (fondly sarcastic) Gods, don’t make me regret this already.

HEPHAESTUS: Alright, alright! I’m trying to mimic the look of Damascus steel using gold and rose gold for Aphrodite’s ring. Something to give it a little bit more personality– and she likes the look of Damascus steel. I need to reach out to Ares to see if he has a preference for precious stones for the ring; Aphrodite is taking the lead, but it feels right that he should have a bit of say in his wife’s wedding ring, right? For Ares, I’m doing a band of titanium with a bit of bronze around the center– it’s classy, a bit understated, and tough enough to withstand the god of war. I’m going to suggest an engraving and the possibility of having some small stones embedded in the ring itself.

Don’t tell my mom, but I’m likely also going to make daggers for the two of them using the same materials as their rings. Aphrodite’s will be more for show– handle in the gold/rose gold faux-damascus with a quartz blade. Something that will be sharp enough to stab but not reinforced enough for battle. 

Well. That’s what I want to do anyway and what I’ve been working on as samples for Aphrodite to view. We got cut short before we could really start talking about rings last time so things may end up changing.

DIONYSUS: All of this work– design and forging– and you might just let her change it all?

HEPHAESTUS: It’s her wedding ring, Di. It should be special to her, don’t you think?

CALLIOPE: It is at this moment that our goddess of love and our god of war make their way to the door of the forge and begin to knock. For your benefit, dear listener, I will rewind time just a smidge so you can hear their conversation in the lead up to their arrival.

ARES: Are you sure I should be here?

APHRODITE: Honestly? No. Your sense of style is atrocious–

ARES: Rude.

APHRODITE: And I’m kind of worried that Hephaestus won’t want to see the two of us. She seemed a little… disconnected from people. By her own choice, but still disconnected. Not sure if she’ll be open to having both of us here. That said, I value your input and honestly could just use someone to keep me on track while I’m there.

ARES: Did you lose track before?

APHRODITE: We didn’t even talk about the rings last time I was here, Air. I talked about the wedding and about how much I love her work and that was about it.

ARES: Well, we’re here. Last chance to send me away.

APHRODITE: Just knock on the door, you prick.

(knocking)

HEPHAESTUS: Oh, Ares– and Aphrodite! I… I didn’t think both of you would be here for the appointment today.

ARES: Apparently my input is valued 🙂

APHRODITE: I’m sorry for springing this on you, but he is right. I do value his opinion even if he’s a bit of a dumbass sometimes.

ARES: And yet you’re still going to marry me. Who’s the dumbass now, Dite?

DIONYSUS: Oh, I like this one, Phae. Let him come in.

HEPHAESTUS: Fine. Come on in.

APHRODITE: Lovely to see you again, Hephaestus. You as well, Dionysus. Are you… Often here in Hephaestus’s forge?

HEPHAESTUS: Just when I can’t get rid of him. He’s a bit of a lost puppy sometimes.

DIONYSUS: I resent that!

HEPHAESTUS: Solstice party.

DIONYSUS: …I didn’t say it was inaccurate, just that I resented it.

ARES: Is he your Ares?

HEPHAESTUS: …Yeah. Yeah, he’s my Ares. Can’t seem to get rid of him, no matter how hard I try. (pause) Not that I think Aphrodite is trying to get rid of you! Clearly she’s not, you two are here to discuss wedding rings, I–

APHRODITE: Nah, you’re right, I’ve tried and failed to get rid of him for years. We’re just stuck together; the Fates decided we needed to be best friends. Speaking of rings, though–

HEPHAESTUS: I’ve got a few actual samples this time. No iron rings, I promise. Why don’t you come take a look? 

DIONYSUS: Can I borrow a moment with Ares before he heads off? It won’t take very long, I promise. 

HEPHAESTUS: As long as he consents, I don’t care. We’ll be in the forge proper whenever you’re ready, Ares.

(footsteps, door)

ARES: What can I do for you, Dionysus?

DIONYSUS: You’re friends with Hermes, right?

ARES: I like to think that we are, yes. Why? Is something wrong with him?

DIONYSUS: I think he’s been in low spirits lately. Zeus has been working him overtime to put up all of those flyers about the wedding. I want to do something for him, but I’m not sure what might raise his spirits. 

ARES: I’m having dinner with him later this week. Maybe I can subtly ask him what’s wrong?

DIONYSUS: That sounds perfect, Ares. Thank you so much for your help. Be careful with the forge door, it sticks a bit sometimes.

CALLIOPE: On the other side of the forge door, much less conniving things were occurring.

HEPHAESTUS: So this one is pure gold. This one is silver and braided. This one is gold and silver braided. And this one–

APHRODITE: That looks like Damascus steel!

HEPHAESTUS: Yeah! I was trying to give it that look without making an actual steel ring. So these are layers of gold and rose gold that were hammered out to mimic the look of Damascus. What do you think?

APHRODITE: This is gorgeous, Hephaestus, I… It’s far too good to use for the likes of this wedding–

(door) 

ARES: Did I miss much?

HEPHAESTUS: Not at all, not at all. I was just showing Aphrodite a few options for her ring base.

CALLIOPE: It should be noted, dear listeners, that Hephaestus has swiped the gold Damascus ring and hidden it out of Ares sight. Why she would choose to do this is unclear, but what’s done is done. 

ARES: This braided silver and gold is beautiful. How did you manage to do that without breaking everything?

HEPHAESTUS: Circe taught me a bit of magic which I use to reinforce all of my works. It helps a lot when trying to make smaller, more delicate items.

APHRODITE: All of them are absolutely remarkable, Hephaestus. I almost don’t know how to pick.

HEPHAESTUS: Well, since Ares is here, maybe he can pick the base for your ring? And the stone, too, unless you have a preference. 

APHRODITE: It could be… nice. To design each other’s rings. Really give it a personal level to the whole thing– like a promise ring. A promise that we’ll always be friends.

ARES: And we will, Dite. We will. Why don’t you go back to the other room with Dionysus. I’ll make my choices for the ring, and then we can switch?

APHRODITE: Don’t let him design me an ugly ring, Hephaestus. I’m counting on you!

(door)

HEPHAESTUS: You two are remarkably similar to me and Dionysus. It’s… How do you feel about getting married, Ares?

ARES: I love Aphrodite. I loved her romantically for a while– still do, on some level– and well… I would do anything for her, same as she would do anything for me. It’s not how I imagined getting married would be, but it’s not all bad. I get to marry my best friend. Wouldn’t you do the same in my shoes?

HEPHAESTUS: Me and Dionysus have almost platonically married each other for far less, I assure you. It’s… It’s good to know she’ll be cared for. From our last conversation… Just take care of her, alright?

ARES: You have my word.

HEPHAESTUS: So you seemed to like the silver/gold braid, then? Or do you prefer something else?

ARES: I think we should do the silver/gold braid. It truly was stunning and I think Dite would like it.

HEPHAESTUS: What about a stone for it– I’ve got the classic diamond, some rubies and emeralds, a few sapphires… I’ve also got some more ‘out there’ choices like pearls and opals and quartzes if you want something less traditional looking.

ARES: I want… I want something that’s unique enough that she feels special but not so out there that it draws unwanted attention. Maybe… Maybe a ruby? She’s always liked the color red.

HEPHAESTUS: Beautiful choices, Ares. You want to go and switch places?

(footsteps, door)

Welcome back.

APHRODITE: Did you have stuff prepared for Ares’ ring?

HEPHAESTUS: I did, yeah. I think a titanium/bronze mix is best for Ares– here, I’ve got a few different combos of the material. I’m a big fan of the strip of bronze around the center, but I’m open to your ideas. Could add stones, could add an engraving– I think that would suit the two of you best, the engraving. Something to make it yours in a way that doesn’t need to be seen by everyone else.

APHRODITE: This is beautiful. Gods, I knew you were good at what you did but… Yes. I think the strip of bronze around the titanium for sure. And an engraving! If it’s not too much trouble. 

HEPHAESTUS: I wouldn’t have offered it if it was. What do you want engraved in there?

APHRODITE: To our kind of love.

HEPHAESTUS: That’s… That’s beautiful, Aphrodite. I’ll have these finalized for you in a couple days if you want to come back and get them. Or I can have Hermes drop them off to you if that’s easier– I know the wedding planning is probably a bit crazy right now.

APHRODITE: It is a bit much, but the walk over here is always a good way to clear my head. You have my number, right?

HEPHAESTUS: Yeah. Yeah, you gave it to me last time. I’ll… I’ll let you know when everything is done. See you in a few days?

APHRODITE: See you in a few days.

CALLIOPE: The Fates themselves are starting to weave our story, dear listeners. What comes next will have to wait for another day– including a conversation with the gods down below. Until next time, and as always, thank you for listening.